I grew up in the church in Derby, baptised at the age of 8 in 1956 inNottingham, (there was no font in Derby.) We met at "Unity Hall" a union hall at the junction of Burton and Normanton Roads. I clearly remember the missionaries announcing at the close of sacrament meeting that there would be a street meeting that evening. Pretty much the whole congregation would walk the 10 minutes downtown, where there were were several gatherings in various parts of the Marketplace. The Jehovah's Witnesses had their corner, as did the Catholic Truth Society, and others, with crowds milling around in between - unfortunately some were in various stages of intoxication. The missionaries and some of the members took turns, opening and closing with a prayer, singing and leading hymns, and teaching about one aspect or other of the gospel. The speakers stood, quite literally, on a soap box for elevated visibility. Animated discussions followed . . . We usually met for 30 minutes or so before taking the bus home. I'm not sure how effective a missionary tool the meetings were - don't remember any baptisms ensuing at least during the 1950s. The practice stopped shortly thereafter.
I grew up in the church in Derby, baptised at the age of 8 in 1956 inNottingham, (there was no font in Derby.) We met at "Unity Hall" a union hall at the junction of Burton and Normanton Roads. I clearly remember the missionaries announcing at the close of sacrament meeting that there would be a street meeting that evening. Pretty much the whole congregation would walk the 10 minutes downtown, where there were were several gatherings in various parts of the Marketplace. The Jehovah's Witnesses had their corner, as did the Catholic Truth Society, and others, with crowds milling around in between - unfortunately some were in various stages of intoxication. The missionaries and some of the members took turns, opening and closing with a prayer, singing and leading hymns, and teaching about one aspect or other of the gospel. The speakers stood, quite literally, on a soap box for elevated visibility. Animated discussions followed . . . We usually met for 30 minutes or so before taking the bus home. I'm not sure how effective a missionary tool the meetings were - don't remember any baptisms ensuing at least during the 1950s. The practice stopped shortly thereafter.